Monday, July 24, 2006

Hundreds rally in Kosovo capital against talks on final status in Vienna

Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive

Prishtina [Pristina], 24 July: At the time when the Kosova [Kosovo] representatives were meeting with their Serbian counterparts in Vienna, hundreds of Kosova citizens protested today in Prishtina, saying that there is nothing to be negotiated with Serbia, because of the crimes it has committed in Kosova.

They also said that the decision of the Negotiating Team to go to Vienna is not in accordance with the will of the Kosovar people.

Self-Determination Movement Leader Albin Kurti said that the difference between the Albanian politicians that are taking part in these talks is that "some of them are lying [to] us for 17 years and some of them are lying us for seven".

"Their lie is the same that the independence is coming, the independence is inevitable, and that we just have to wait and to be patient, whereas they do not care that this patience is dehumanization, degradation for us," said Kurti.

He criticized the Kosova delegation for going to Vienna, adding that there are many elements which show whether Kosova has won its independence or not.

Kurti said that as the first element is that Kosova does not have an army, adding that if you do not have an army and talk to the enemy, then you are asking for mercy.

"Our politicians are asking for this mercy from the enemy, while the international mediators are disguising this begging," said Kurti.

According to him, the status talks in Vienna are dividing Kosova's territory, adding that the Kosovar politicians are not aware of this.

Meanwhile, activist Adem Demaci also attended today's protest, calling on the citizens to raise their voice against these misleading negotiations.